Counsel for Petitioner

Transcription

1 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA BENJAMIN BILLER, Petitioner, vs. STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent. CASE NO. Fourth DCA Case No PETITIONER'S BRIEF ON JURISDICTION RICHARD L. JORANDBY Public Defender 5th Judicial Circuit Criminal Justice Building 42 3RD Street/Gth Floor West Palm Beach, Florida 3340 (407) ROBERT FRIEDMAN Assistant Public Defender Counsel for Petitioner

2 CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS - PAGE TABLEOFCONTENTS i AUTHORITIES CITED... ii PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.... STATEBBNT OF THE CASE... 2 STATEMENT OF THE FACTS... 3 ARGUMENT PETITIONER HAS PROPERLY INVOKED THE JURISDICTION OF THIS COURT SINCE THE OPINION OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL EXPRESSLY AND DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE DECISION OF ANOTHER DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CONCLUSION... 6 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE... 6 i

3 CASES CITED AUTHORITIES CITED PAGE Cole v. State, 52 So.2d 297 (Fla. st DCA 988)... 5 Dodi Publishins v. Editorial America, S.A., 385 So.2d 369 (Fla. 980)... 4 Jenkins v. State, 385 So.2d 356 (Fla. 980)... 4 Rodrisuez v. State, 378 So.2d 7 (Fla. 2d DCA 979) Stonebraker v. State, 594 So.2d 35 (Fla. 2d DCA 99).... 4, 5 Wilkinson v. State, 388 So.2d 322 (Fla. 5th DCA 980)... FLORIDA CONSTITUTION Article v, S 3(b)(3) (980) FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 9.030(a)(2)(iv) ii

4 PRELIMINARY STATEmNT Petitioner was the defendant in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, In and For Braward County, Florida, and the appellant in the District Court of Appeal, Fourth District. Respondent was the prosecution and appellee in the lower courts. The parties; will be referred to as they appear before this Court.

5 STATEMENT OF THE CASE Petitioner, Benjamin Biller, was convicted of carrying a concealed firearm and weapon, At sentencing, the trial court imposed as a condition of probation that Petitioner not use or possess alcoholic beverages during his probationary term (Al). On August 2, 992, the Fourth District Court of Appeal upheld the trial court's condition of probation that Petitioner not use or possess alcoholic beverages during his probationary term. In so doing, the district court concluded that the trial did not abuse its discretion in imposing such a condition of probation even though there was nothing in the record before them which specifically related Petitioner's crime or conduct to alcohol. The Fourth District did note, however, that their opinion may be in conflict with Stonebrakes v. State, 594 So.2d 35 (Fla. 2d DCA 99). Judge Anstead dissented without opinion (Al-A3). On August 26, 992, Petitioner filed a motion for rehearing and/or express certification of conflict. On September 0, 992 the Fourth District Court of Appeal denied Petitioner's motion for rehearing and/or express certification of conflict (A4). Petitioner timely filed a notice to invoke this Court's discretionary jurisdiction. 2

6 STATEMENT OF THE FACTS The decision, at bar, expressly and directly conflicts with the Second District's decision in Stonebraker v. State, 594 So.2d 35 (Fla. 2d DCA 99). The Fourth District noted that Stonebraker may be in conflict with its written opinion herein. Thus, Petitioner has properly invoked the conflict jurisdiction of this Court. 3

7 ARGUMENT PETITIONER HAS PROPERLY INVOKED THE JURISDICTION OF THIS COURT SINCE THE OPINION OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL EXPRESSLY AND DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE DECISION OF ANOTHER DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL. To properly invoke the "conflict certiorari" jurisdiction of this Court, Petitioner must demonstrate that there is ''express and direct conflict" between the decision challenged herein, and those holdings of other Florida appellate courts or this Court an the same rule of law to produce a different result than other state appellate courts faced with the substantially same facts. Dodi Publishinu v. Editorial America, S.A., 385 So.2d 369 (Fla. 980); Jenkins v. State, 385 So.2d 356 (Fla. 980); Article v, S 3(b)(3), Fla. Const. (980); Fa.R.App.P (a)(2)(iv). In the present case, the Fourth District Court of Appeal expressly found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the condition of probation upon Petitioner that he not use or possess alcohol during his probationary term even though there was nothing in the record that specifically related petitioner's crime or conduct of carrying a concealed fiream and weapon to alcohol. The opinion of the Fourth District Court of Appeal expressly and directly canflicts with the Second District's decision in Stonebraker v. State, 594 So.2d 35 (Fla. 2d DCA 99). In Stonebraker, the defendant was convicted of grand theft and he was placed on probation with a special condition that restricted his use of alcohol and his visitation of premises upon which alcohol or intoxicants were sold. The district court struck down 4

8 this condition as being unrelated to the crime of grand theft for which he was convicted. A condition of probation must be reasonably related to the offense in which a defendant is convicted or reasonably related to prevent future criminal conduct. A trial court cannot impose a condition of probation restricting non criminal conduct. Rodrisuez v. State, 378 So.2d 7 (Fla. 2d DCA 979); Wilkinson v. State, 388 So.2d 322 (Fla. 5th DCA 980); Cole v. State, 52 So.2d 297 (Fla. st DCA 988). The opinion by the Second District in Stonebraker is expressly and directly in conflict with the Fourth District herein on the same question of law. Thus, the Biller opinion expressly and directly conflicts with a decision of another district court of appeal. Petitioner has validly invoked the conflict jurisdiction of this Court in the instant case. Petitioner respectfully requests this Honorable Court to grant his petition for review and reverse the decision of the lower court. 5

9 CONCLUSION The decision of the Fourth District Court of Appeal herein expressly and directly conflicts with a decision of another district court of appeal an the same question of law. This Honorable Court should grant Petitioner's request for jurisdiction and hear this cause on the merits. Respectfully submitted, RICHARD JORANDBY Public Defender 5th Judicial Circuit of Florida Criminal Justice Building/6th Floor 42 3RD Street West Palm Beach, Florida 3340 (407) Y ROBERT FRIEDMAN Assistant Public Defender CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy hereof has been furnished to CAROL COBURN ASBURY, Assistant Attorney General, Elisha Newton Dimick Building, Suite 204, Georgia Avenue, West Palm Beach, I/ Florida 3340 by courier this day of OCTOBER, 992. Of Counsel 6

10 IN THE SUPREME: COURT OF FLORIDA BENJAMIN BILLER, Petitioner. VS. STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent. CASE NO. Fourth DCA Case No.: ' I -. APPENDICES 4

11 IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOURTH DISTRICT JULY TERM 992 BENJAMIN BILLER, Appellant, V. CASE NO STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee. Opinion filed August 2, 992 Appeal from the Circuit Court for Broward County; IS. Leonard Fleet, Judge. Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Robert Friedman, Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant. NOT FINAL UNTlL TIME EX?IW TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF PIED, DISPOSED OF. Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Carol Cobourn Asbury, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellee. STONE, J. We affirm appellant's conviction and sentence for carrying a concealed firearm and weapon. The trial court imposed a condition of probation that appellant not use or possess alcoholic beverages, The validity of this condition is the sole issue on appeal. The appellant contends that the condition is not reasonably related to these circumstances. In Stonebraker v. State, 594 So.2d 35 (Fla. 2d DCA 992), the court struck a similar condition as being unrelated to the crime of grand theft. See also Cole v. State, 52 So.2d 297 (Fla. st DCA 988). --

12 However, notwithstanding that nothing in the record before us specifically relates the appellant's crime or conduct to alcohol, we find no abuse of discretion in the court imposing restrictions concerning the use or possession of alcohol on the appellant's probation. Such a condition is appropriate where it may be related to the past or future criminality of the defendant or where it is used as a tool for rehabilitation, E.g., Brown v. State, 406 So.2d 262 (Fla. 4th DCA 98); Coulson v. State, 342 So.2d 042 (Fla. 4th DCA 977). Here we do not have the benefit of reviewing the presentence investigation report, which was before the trial court, and we have no information as to its content. However, it does not appear that the trial court was relying specifically on the report in reaching its decision to impose the condition. Nor can we tell from this record what, if anything, the trial court may have previously observed in its contacts with the defendant. The record only reflects the trial court's statement: The special conditions of probation have to have a reasonable relation to the offense which occurred. Given the peculiar circumstances of this particular case, I am of the opinion this gentleman should refrain from the ingestion of any alcohol in order to not be in a position in which his judgment would be impaired which would cause him to repeat the activities for which he now stands convicted which results in impaired judgment under these Circumstances. In Coulson, this court upheld a special condition of probation, following a burglary conviction, that the defendant obtain and maintain employment. At the Same time, we struck as punitive a companion requirement that he draw no unemployment compensation. In Coulson, Judge Downey recognized that: -2- -

13 . " It is well settled that the primary purpose of probation is to rehabilitate the individual while he is at liberty under supervision. Bernhardt v. State, 288 So.2d 490 (Fla. 974). In the matter of granting probation and specifying conditions thereof trial courts are necessarily - vested with a broad, but not unbridled, discretion. Kominsky v. State, 330 So.2d 800 (Fla. st DCA 976). And the terms and conditions of probation are valid if the activities restricted bear a reasonable relation to the past or future criminality of the probationer, notwithstanding that such activities may be lawful in themselves. See, e.g., Malone v. United States, 502 F.2d 554 (9th Cir. 974). Because of the broad discretion reposing in the trial judge appellate courts should be wary of interfering with his design of conditions to effectuate a successful probation. However, if a special condition of probation is so punitive as to be unrelated to rehabilitation, it can not be imposed. Kominsky v. State, supra, In that case, the court recognized that maintaining employment was an effective tool in rehabilitation. We can discern no reason why a trial court could not similarly conclude the same as to the abstinence from the use or possession of alcohol. Certainly there will be instances where a restriction on lawful activity is unnecessary, but that is also true of many valid conditions of probation, not the least of which is the trial court's unbridled authority to incarcerate a defendant for up to 365 days without any more record than is before us today. We conclude that the ends of justice are best served by affirming the court's exercise of discretion. opinion may be in conflict with Stonebraker... POLEN, J., concurs. ANSTEAD, J. dissents without opinion. We recognize that this

14 IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOURTH DISTRICT, P.O. BOX 335, WEST PALM BEACH, FL BENJAMIN I. BILLER CASE NO Appellant(s), vs. STATE OF FLORIDA Appellee(s). L.T. CASE NO CF BROWARD September 0, 992 BY ORDER OF THE COURT: ORDERED that appellant's motion filed August 26, 992, for rehearing and/or express certification of conflict to the Florida Supreme Court is hereby denied. I hereby certify the foregoing is a true copy of the original court order. MARILYN -.- CLERK. cc: Public Defender 5 Attorney General-W. Palm Beach -4 -

15 .. ', CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy of the Appendix has been furnished by courier to CAROL COBURN ASBURY, Assistant Attorney General, Elisha Newton Dimick Building, Suite, 204 Georgia Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 3340this 3h day of OCTOBER, 992.